Film and TV language: Lighting


1) Still image analysis:


 1 - Low key lighting, uses key lighting.  This creates a contrast on the face form one side being bright and the other being dark. The key lighting is at an angle so also shows the smoke coming from the cigarette. 

2 - Low key lighting, uses underlighting. This creates an eerie or atmosphere, most associated with a horror film. Some parts of a face are light up, but her facial features e.g. eyes, nose, lips, are hidden due to the underlighting, which creates a sense of enigma (Barthes). It makes the face look like a skeleton - links to key conventions of a horror film.

3 - High key lighting, uses underlighting and backlighting. Gives a realistic look, but also makes a silhouette creating realism. The underlighting  produces a shadow just above the eye, creating an element of horror.

4 - Low key lighting, uses backlight. The low key lighting creates a chiaroscuro effect creating a dramatic shadow/darkness across his face. Half his face is covered giving it a feeling of enigma (Barthes). The backlight creates the scene as it highlights the gun as a silhouette and as a key prop (mise-en-scene / Barthes action codes).

5 - Key light, uses underlighting. The key lighting makes the facial expression/features visible and creates a dramatic large shadow. The underlighting further elevates this by giving the shadow more height increasing the effect.  

6 - Low key lighting, uses the underlighting. The low key lighting creates a shadow from the blinds giving a naturalistic effect. The underlighting further reinforces the effect and it constructs stripes on the man's face,  so there are parts which are dark and then there are parts which are light. This may show that the man has some hidden lies.

7 - Low key lighting, uses the backlighting. The low key lighting creates a chiaroscuro effect of a contrast of a dark edge and the actors, but a bright middle. The backlighting creates the big dramatic shadows of the actors on the floor.

8 - Low key lighting, uses the underlighting. The low key lighting creates a big monochrome contrast. The underlighting highlights the features of the ladies face and her shoulder, but darkens everything else. It also generates the high shadow of the lady on the background adding elements of horror.

9 - High key lighting, uses top lighting. The high key lighting makes a natural image. The top lighting makes the man's facial feature visible. It creates monochrome, image which is balanced.

10 - Low key lighting, uses underlighting. The low key lighting creates and high lightens the man, but blanks the surroundings, produces a chiaroscuro effect. The underlighting creates a horror effect and makes his face a focal point.

11 - High key lighting, uses top lighting. The high key lighting depicts a much more realistic scene. The top lighting glamorises the actors making them seem attractive.  


2) Film noir research:

  • 'Noir' - French word for black
  • Has a low-ley lighting style which causes the dramatic shadows, Chiaroscuro effect
  • Created by only using the key and back lights causing a dramatic shadow and outlines
  • Black and white style
  • Usually has a crime narrative genre
  • Usually has Femme fatale - 'a fatal female' is a character who is associated with bringing danger and being deceiving. Seduces men and puts them in a trap.
  • Dark lighting gives the enigma elements (Barthes enigma code) 


3) Film noir YouTube clip analysis:



The opening scene of the clip consists of the use of backlighting, creating a silhouette of the protagonist. His whole body is hidden due to this, creating enigma (Barthes). In the middle parts of the clip both key light and backlight is used making objects in the room appear round and create dramatic shadows. The backlights and the key light also constructs the shadows of the moving objects, for example when he pulls the blind down, you can see the movement through a shadow. The lighting in the clip is mostly low key lighting. This creates a monochrome contrast (chiaroscuro) and also make the faces of the actors half bright and half dark. This further adds to the enigma (Barthes) as because the face is semi-hidden, it creates mystery. At 30 seconds, top lighting is used to indicate the gun, which shows he is threating the other man or about to kill him (Barthes action codes). Near to the end of the clip, a lot of under lighting is used to create dramatic and drastic shadows, which adds to the seriousness of the clip as it also high lightens the actors facial expressions/features. 

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